זכריה, פרק י״ד, פסוק י״ט

Refusing to recognize God's kingship and participate in the pilgrimage to Jerusalem during the era of redemption leads to devastating divine consequences. The primary approach among commentators is that references to the nations' offense in this context actually describe the punishment, disaster, and retribution resulting from their disobedience, rather than the act of the sin itself.

The exact nature of this divine retribution varies, specifically regarding how it falls upon Egypt compared to the rest of the world. The central approach [רד ק ומצודת דוד] draws a clear distinction between the penalties. Because Egypt relies on its rivers rather than rainfall to water its land, a drought would be an ineffective penalty. Therefore, Egypt is punished with a plague, while the rest of the nations suffer from the withholding of rain. However, this distinction is not absolute. Some suggest that the plague is not exclusive to Egypt; any nation situated near natural water sources that irrigate its land will also face the plague rather than a drought [אבן עזרא].

Taking a different perspective, [מלבי״ם] views Egypt's offense as far more severe because they participated in the war of Gog and failed to learn from it. Consequently, they are struck with a plague, which is a much harsher blow than a drought. Because of Egypt's profound guilt, this severe plague will ultimately spread outward, infecting and striking all the other nations as well.

A completely different approach argues against splitting the punishments entirely, suggesting instead that all nations face a combined, double penalty [אברבנאל]. Because God fights His enemies using both plagues and torrential rains of fire and brimstone, any nation that fails to make the pilgrimage for the Festival of Sukkot will suffer both afflictions simultaneously as a reminder of that divine war. In this view, the plague is a universal punishment shared by all. Even Egypt, which normally remains unaffected by a lack of rain, cannot escape the plague that will strike them and the rest of the world alongside the drought.